Impatiens plant named Blazon

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named Blazon, characterized by its large, deep crimson red flowers, highly self-branching habit, large dark green leaves which have a slightly reddish cast to midrib and green venation on leaf underside, early blooming and floriferous habit, two flowers per leaf axil, and its ability to continuously flower under high sunlight, and high as well as cool temperatures.

The present invention comprises a new and distinctive cultivar ofImpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens, and referred to by thecultivar name Blazon. Blazon was developed by me through controlledbreeding by crossing Mirach, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,309(seed parent) with Mikkelsen Seedling No. 85-185-1 (pollen parent).

Asexual reproduction by terminal or stem cuttings has shown that theunique features of this new impatiens are stabilized and are reproducedtrue to type in successive propagations.

The following combination of characteristics distinguish Blazon fromboth its parent varieties and other cultivated impatiens of this typeknown and used in the floriculture industry. Characteristics aredescribed with reference to the comparison cultivars Red Planet,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,690, and the seed or female parentMirach. Color references are to the Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.).

1. Blazon has deep crimson red (45A) flowers which are redder than RedPlanet (46B) and Mirach (42A).

2. The flower diameter of Blazon is 6.0 to 6.5 cm, while the flowerdiameter of both Red Planet and Mirach are 5.0 to 5.5 cm.

3. Blazon has a semi-upright, more self-branched growth habit than RedPlanet and Mirach, both of which have a mounded, less branched growthhabit.

4. The leaves of Blazon and Red Planet are dark green, while the leavesof Mirach are slightly lighter green. All have similar cream variegationaround the midrib but Blazon has the least amount of variegation.

5. The leaves of Blazon are larger (12-15 cm long and 4-5 cm wide) thaneither Mirach (9-10 cm long and 2.5 to 3.5 cm wide) or Red Planet (10 cmlong and 3 cm wide).

6. Blazon has a slightly reddish cast to the midrib of the leaf, similarto Mirach, with Red Planet having more red coloration in the midrib.

7. Blazon and Mirach have green venation on the underside of the leaf,whereas Red Planet has red venation.

8. Blazon is from 7 to 10 days earlier to bloom than Red Planet, andsimilar to Mirach. Moreover, the flowers are longer lasting than theflowers of either Mirach or Red Planet.

9. The spurs of the flowers of Blazon have a green tip, similar toMirach, while Red Planet has a reddish purple tip.

10. Most leaf axils of Blazon have two flower buds, while Mirach hasfewer leaf axils with two flowers and Red Planet has only one flower budper leaf axil.

The accompanying colored photograph is a front perspective viewillustrating the overall appearance of Blazon and showing the colors astrue as reasonably possible to obtain in a colored reproduction of thistype. The photograph was taken in March 1990 under natural light on anovercast day under double poly greenhouse covering at Ashtabula, Ohio.

The following is a detailed description of Blazon, based on plantsproduced in greenhouses in Ashtabula, Ohio during the summer season ofthe year. Plants were grown in 15 cm pots and measurements were taken 16weeks after rooted cuttings were planted. Height measurements were takenfrom the soil line of the container. The plants were grown at 65°-68° F.night temperatures, under 3500 to 4500 foot candles of light, and 240ppm nitrogen, 240 ppm potassium, and 175 ppm phosphorous nutritionallevels with trace elements added. Habit of growth, foliage coloration,leaf variegation, size of leaves and flower size will be greatlyinfluenced by nutritional and environmental conditions. Color referencesare made to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) exceptwhere general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Parentage: A controlled cross between female parent Mirach and maleparent Mikkelsen Seedling No. 85-185-1.

Propagation:

A. Type cutting.--Stem 15 mm long will develop to 4 to 5 cm long in 18to 21 days.

B. Time to initiate roots.--8-10 days at 23° C. summer; 10-12 days at20° C. winter.

C. Rooting habit.--Heavy, fibrous.

Plant description: Habit of growth, foliage coloration and size of leafwill be greatly influenced by nutritional and environmental conditions.Thus, data that follows was taken from plants grown under the conditionsstated above.

A. Form and habit of growth.--Semi-upright; self-branched; intermediatein height; vigorous growing, continuous flowering herb with flowers overthe top of foliage.

B. Foliage description.--Dark green leaves with cream colored midrib,green venation on under side of the leaves, and a trace of creamvariegation around midrib on lower half of the leaf. 1. Size: 12 to 15cm long and 4 to 5 cm wide at maturity. 2. Shape: Lanceolate withacuminate apex and acute base. 3. Texture: Both upper and lower surfacesare glabrous. 4. Margin: Slightly serrated with fine ciliate. 5. Color:Young foliage top side, 146A; under side 146B. Mature foliage top side147A; under side 147B. 6. Venation: Pinnate; green in color.

Flowering description:

A. Flowering habits.--Flowers continuously from leaf whorl in aprogressively orderly manner, usually with two flowers per leaf axil.All first flowers in a whorl open before the second flower in the leafaxil of that whorl starts to open. When second flowers of a leaf axilstart to open, the first flowers of the leaf axils of the whorl abovestart to open. It takes 5 to 7 days for a mature bud to fully open, withthe flowers lasting two weeks or longer depending on the environment.

B. Natural flowering season.--Indeterminant and continuous. Quantity offlowering increases with increasing levels of light.

C. Flower buds.--Ellipsoidal, flowers perfect. Bright red spur up to 4.5cm long with green tip on a mature bud, with the throat behind the ovaryand originating from the major sepal.

D. Flowers borne.--Individual reddish pedicels (3 cm long) from a whorlof 5 to 6 leaves flowering progressively around the whorl as buds andleaves develop. Most leaf axils have two flowers.

E. Quantity of flowers.--Very floriferous. Because of long lastingflowers and two flowers per leaf axil, flowers frequently open at threewhorls at once. Flower development is continuous and is above leafcanopy.

F. Diameter of flower.--6.0 to 6.5 cm.

G. Petals.--1. Shape: Heart-shaped; two lower petals are larger thanother three. 2. Color: Top side when opening slightly deeper than 45A,fading to 45B. Under side 46B. 3. Number of petals: Five. 4. Size ofpetals: Standard -- 4.0 cm wide by 3.2 cm long; two equal lobes, shallowcut. Wings -- 2.5 cm wide by 3.5 cm long; two unequal lobes, shallowcut. Keel -- 3.5 cm wide by 4.5 cm long; two unequal lobes, deep cut.

Reproductive organs:

1. Stamens.--Five in number. Anther shape is hooded; cream in color withred tinge; pollen color is cream.

2. Pistils.--Stigma shape is five segmented column; cream colored. Stylecolor is cream. Ovaries, five in number; 5 mm in size; color is brightgreen.

Disease resistance: No significant disease and insect problems to date.Blazon is much more tolerant to the disease Rhizoctonia than Mirach.

OTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS

1. Blazon has larger diameter stems than either Mirach or Red Planet andis therefore better able to hold up to its large flowers.

2. Blazon has shown the ability to tolerate both high temperatures andhigh sunlight levels, as well as cool temperatures (40°-50° F.). Thus,the growing season can be extended.

3. Self-branching, early flowering nature allows Blazon to be grown in10 cm pot. However, Blazon is also vigorous so that it can also be grownin 15 to 25 cm containers.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named Blazon,as illustrated and described.